Having completed C25k 3 times over the past 3 years I have always then fallen off the wagon and stopped running - wallowing in the success of completion.By my own admission I am an overweight 54 year old , heart attack suffer (2016) who is a secret eater - don’t tell the wife and kids !!!😂) who if had will power and self discipline could be pretty fit.
Regardless I decided to do my 1st park run yesterday and WOW - I loved it - what a great atmosphere and community- I am far from fast and still not accomplished 5k in 30 mins yet but am trying however yesterday in Wilmslow everyone was so encouraging and motivating that it made it fun -a sub 40 run (39.20) I felt was very respectable- helped by the fact as I completed the course with a fellow back marker he mentioned he was 82 so couldn’t let myself be beaten by him and mustered the strength to sprint the last 20 meters to beat him by 7/100 ths of a second!! Am looking forward to Park Run number 2 and may even bring my kids (still not telling them about the secret eating - which must stop !! )
Written by
JayDee007
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This is absolutely brilliant to read! Congratulations on going sub 40! That’s still a dream for many people and you’ve nailed it.
Couch to 5k is really unhelpful in making most of us feel like we should be running 5k in 30 minutes. Plenty of great runners don’t! It’s only about getting to run for 30 minutes and you’ve gone even further. Massively worthy of celebrating. Over time, your time may ho down as you carry on running-keep that 30 minutes as a big goal and have lots of other smaller goals along the way…goals for distance, goals for distance in.a certain time, goals to run up a hill or round a route you love, goals for joy! Whatever works for you.
You might like to drop in on the parkrun thread over on Bridge to 10k and say hi! You’ll get lots of cheers there too!
I really enjoyed reading this! I too have just registered with park run so hope to find it the same positive experience as you! (I doubt I'll be sub 40 mins though!) Well done.
👍 didnt think i would be either - was thinking 45 at best but the team and fellow runners help all the way - a finisher encouraged me to run (slowly) up the final hill by running with me. Great camaraderie
It sounds like you've had a terrific experience in your first parkrun! Congrats!!!
Don't worry about not reaching 5K in 30 minutes. Just running a 5K and completing it is really terrific.
I did a month's worth of consolodation runs after my C25K graduation before I hit 5K. And just from a regular three run's a week, I am seeing my times come down. Consistency.
well done. Are you still running? I did my first park run this morning. It wasn’t my best 5km time as the route involved a hill on each of the three laps! Really hot 🥵 today despite living in Scotland!
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1st Park Run
First park run time
First Park Run
1st park run 
Park run, wk9r2? Celebratory graduation finish! 
